Two-piece room air-conditioner cabinet



June 26, 1956 S. J- WILLIAMS, JR

TWO-PIECE ROOM AIR-CONDITIONER CABINET 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 23, 1954 llsl .1

/ INVENTOR s/ J. W/LL/AMS JR. BYP P.

4r TORNEV June 26, 1 5. J. WILLIAMS, JR

TWO-PIECE ROOM AIR-CONDITIONER CABINET 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 23, 1954 INVENTOR S/ J. WILLIAMS JR.

A TTORNE) June 26, 1 5. J. WILLIAMS, JR

TWO-PIECE ROOM AIR-CONDITIONER CABINET Filed Nov. 23, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 5/ J. W/LL/AMS JR. 8) P I} Mo, M

A T TORNEY United States ?atent 2,751,760 TWO-PIECE ROOM AIR-coNnITIoNER CABINET Si J. Williams, Jr., Evansville, Ind, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Whirlpool-Seeger Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application November 23, 1954, Serial No. 470,616 8 Claims. (Cl. 62-42?) This invention relates to air-conditioning apparatus, generally, but is more specifically concerned with the provision of a cabinet or housing for a room air conditioner of the type usually mounted in a window of the space being cooled.

Heretofore, many types and forms of cabinet and housing structures have been provided for such air-conditioning units, but in all of these prior structures, the refrigeration apparatus was mounted on some form of supporting base or frame member and a housing or casing, fashioned in one or more sections, placed around said apparatus sub-assembly and the assembled unit suitably mounted in the window structure. This arrangement, of course, makes for a unit which is not only costly and expensive to fabricate, but also one that is unnecessarily heavy, awkward, and difficult to handle during installation and removal operations.

It is a primary feature of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved, inexpensive, compact, and relatively light-weight air-conditioning unit suitable for mounting in the window structure of a space to be air conditioned.

An important object of the invention is to provide an air-conditioning unit in which the cabinet may be fabricated in two sections, and into which sections means for dividing the cabinet into a cooling compartment and an apparatus compartment may be integrally fashioned.

Another object is to provide an air-conditioner cabinet of pleasing appearance that is fabricated in two sections which when assembled overlap one another and are secured together by integrally fashioned interlocking means.

Another object is to provide an air-conditioner cabinet in which the refrigerating apparatus components are either supported or fixedly positioned by means integrally fashioned with the cabinet walls, thus obviating the use of a separate base or frame structure for supporting and mounting said components.

A further object is to provide an air-conditioner cabinet fashioned in telescoping sections in which the base, fan shrouds, dividing wall, motor mounts, and drain tray and tube are all fashioned integrally withthe cabinet, thereby providing a cabinet having the maximum number of components integrally fashioned therewith.

A still further object is to provide a two-section airconditioner cabinet wherein a compartment-dividing wall and a plurality of fan shroud wall members are formed so that a portion of each is fashioned integrally with each section of the cabinet, and complemental portions are disposed so as to be in registering alignment one with the other when the two sections of the cabinet are positioned to encase and house both the air-cooling apparatus and the condenser heat exchanger.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims Patented June 26, 1956 ice annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the proposed air-conditioning unit;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective of the proposed unit;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 4'4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a partial vertical sectional view, shown in enlarged dimension, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a partial vertical sectional view, shown in enlarged dimension, of the area enclosed in the circle in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on line 83 of Fig. 3.

In the particular embodiment depicted in the drawings, it will be noted that a room-type air-conditioning unit has been selected to illustrate a preferred application of the present invention. The proposed air-conditioning unit, indicated generally by the reference character 10, includes a housing or cabinet 11 that is fashioned with a lower section 12 and an upper section 12a which cooperates therewith to house and support the air-cooling or refrigeration apparatus. Said apparatus, which is generally conventional for units of this character, includes a motor-compressor 13, condenser 14, evaporator 15, air filter 16, fan motor 17, condenser fan 18, and evaporator fan 19, while the fan motor 17 has a double-ended shaft projecting from opposite ends thereof upon which are mounted in conventional fashion the fans 18 and 19. For drawing simplification purposes, no refrigerant-carrying conduits have been shown as joining the compressor, evaporator, and condenser components together, but it will be understood that such conduits will be provided and that the refrigeration system will be charged with suitable refrigerant and operated in the well-known conventional manner.

The cabinet or casing as proposed in the present invention is fashioned so that the upper section 12a overlaps and is interlocked with the lower section 12, and both sections are formed with certain complemental components therein that register in mating relationship when the two sections are assembled. In the lower section 12, the end wall 29 thereof has an opening 21 that may accommodate a louvered grille-like member 22 through which circulated air from the room or space being cooled may be directed into the cooling chamber. The inner surface of said grille is positioned to contact or abut against oppositely disposed vertically extending rib or flange-like extension members 23, formed integrally one each on the inner side walls of said lower cabinet section, and as thus positioned, is rigidly and fixedly maintained in place between said ridge members 23 and the end wall 20. Spaced longitudinally inwardly from said ribs or ridges a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness of the air-filter element 16 is a second set or bank of integrally formed and vertically disposed ridges or rib members 24 which cooperate with the first rib members 23 to rigidly support and position said filter element when such is slidably positioned within a channel-like slide or guideway formed by said longitudinally spaced ribs. Spaced longitudinally inwardly from said second set of ribs is a third set or bank of integrally formed and vertically disposed ribs 25 which cooperate with said second set of ribs 24 to provide a channel-like recess or guideway for slidably receiving and fixedly positioning the evaporator 15.

Spaced longitudinally inwardly from the third set of oppositely disposed ridge members 25 is an integrally formed vertically disposed wall members 26 having an opening 27 therein that is fashioned as a semi-circle and dimensioned to accommodate the evaporator fan 19 which is positioned for rotation therewithin. The wall'26 as thus formed cooperates with the inner wall surfaces of the lower cabinet section 12 to provide half of a shroudlike casing or hood surrounding said fan and the opening 27 therein permits the fan 19 to pull air from the room being cooled into heat-exchange relation with the evaporator 15. A second integrally formed and vertically disposed wall member 28, longitudinally spaced from said shroud wall, extends between opposite side walls of the lower cabinet section 12 and functions as 'a dividing wall or partition member to separate said cabinet section into -a lower-portion machinery compartment 29 and an adjoining lower-portion cooling compartment 30.

The cooling compartment 39 of said lower cabinet section extends from the dividing wall 23 to an opposite end wall 31 which has an opening 32 therein that is similar to the opening 21 in the other end wall 20. Spaced longitudinally inwardly from the end wall 31 is a fourth set or bank of integrally formed and vertically disposed rib members 33 which cooperate with end wall 31 to provide a channel-like recess or guideway for fixedly positioning the condenser 14 after it has been slidably positioned .therewithin. Spaced longitudinally inwardly from said fourth rib members 33 is an integrally formed and vertically disposed wall member 34 having an opening 35 therein fashioned as a semi-circle and dimensioned to accommodate condenser fan 18 which is positioned for rotation therewithin. The wall 34 as thus formed cooperates with the inner wall surfaces of the lower cabinet section 12 to provide half of a shroud-like casing or hood enclosing said condenser fan and the opening 35 therein permits air taken into the compartment 29 to be directed by said fan into heat-exchange relation with the condenser 14.

The cabinet upper section 12a is similarly fashioned to that of the lower section 12, and likewise is moulded to provide a container-like housing or casing structure resembling that of the lower section. The upper section 1211, however, is dimensioned slightly larger than that of the lower section so as to be suitable for positioning thereover in a telescoping manner. It is preferable also that the side walls of said upper section be of such length that the marginal edges thereof extend substantially to the bottom wall or floor of the lower section so as not to detract unduly from the pleasing over-all appearance of the assembled cabinet.

The upper section 12a has an end wall 20a that is provided with an opening 21a, complementally disposed with respect to opening 29 in the lower-section end wall 21, for accommodating the louvered air grille 22. Spaced longitudinally inwardly from said wall are a set of vertical rib members 23a which are integrally formed one each with the side walls of said upper section, and arranged so as to complement cooperating rib members 23 in the lower section for fixedly positioning the said grille in place. In the lower cabinet section 12, the various vertical banks of rib members extend from the bottom .wall or floor thereof to the marginal edges of the sections side 'walls, but in the upper section it is only necessary that the banks of rib members extend far enough to contact or abut the top surfaces of the corresponding complemental rib members in the lower section. Spaced longitudinally inwardly from the first ribs 23a is a second set of integrally formed and vertically disposed ribs 24a which complement the second ribs 24, of the lower section, and aid in fixedly positioning the filter element 16. A third set of similarly formed ribs 25a which are complemental to the third set of ribs 25, in said lower section, cooperate with said latter ribs in fixedly positioning the evaporator 15. An integrally formed and vertically disposed wall member 25a having a semi-circular opening 27a therein is complementally arranged with respect to the corresponding wall member 26, in the said lower section, and cooperates with the inner walls of said upper section in providing the upper half of an evaporator fan shroud. Another integrally formed and vertically disposed wall member 28a extends between opposite side walls of the upper cabinet section 12a and serves as a dividing wall or partition member to separate said upper section into an upper-portion machinery compartment 29a and an adjoining upper-portion cooling compartment 30a, and said Wall 28a is likewise complementally arranged with respect to the corresponding wall 28 in said lower section.

As in the lower cabinet section 12, the cooling compartment 3%, of the upper section 12a, extends from the dividing wall 22a to an opposite end wall 31a that has an opening 32a therein which, in addition to being similar to opening 21a, is also complemental to opening 32 in said lower section 12. Spaced longitudinally inwardly from the end wall 31a is a set of integrally formed rib members which are complemental to ribs 33a and cooperate therewith and with end wall 31:: to provide a channel-like guide or recess to aid in fixedly positioning the condenser 14. Spaced longitudinally inwardly from the ribs 33a is an integrally formed and vertically disposed wall member 34a that has a semi-circular opening 35a therein which is arranged complemental to the opening 35 in the lower section 12 for accommodating the condenser fan 13.

In each of the side walls (only one of which is so shown) adjoining the cooling compartment 30a, in the 7 upper section 120, there are provided a plurality of louvcred openings 36 which, together with a similar set of openings 37 in the top wall of said section, serve for discharging air, admitted through the louvered grille 22, back into the room being cooled after it has passed into heatexchange relation with the evaporator 15. Similarly, in each of the side walls (only one of which is so'shown) of said upper section adjoining the machinery compare ment 29a are a plurality of louvered openings 33 which, together with a set of similar openings 39 in the top wall thereof, provide means for admitting outside atmospheric air to the machinery compartment where it may be directed into heat-exchange relation with the condenser 14 before being discharged, by way of the end wall opening 3232a, back into the atmosphere. The openings 36, 37, 38, and 39 and the louvers spanning said openings, preferably, are all fashioned integrally with the upper section 12a of the cabinet, thus facilitating the fabrication of the assembled cabinet structure. It will be appreciated, however, that such louvered openings may, if desired, be provided also in the lower section 12, either as a substitute for, as a supplement to, or to cooperate with, the louvers in the upper section 12:: without deviating from the teachings or concepts hereof.

The lower or marginal edge of the compartments dividing wall 28:: is provided with a longitudinally extending Y-shaped yoke-like or bifurcated flange member 40 (Fig.6), which is formed to overlie and receive between the bifurcations thereof in a close-fitting relationship the mating upper or marginal edge of the lower sections dividing wall 28 and thereby substantially seal the proximate edges of said ,upper. and lower section walls against the leakage or passage of air therethrough. In this manner, the air circulating in the cooling compartment is maintained separated from the air circulating in the machinery compartment, and hence the two separate air circuits set up in these compartments are prevented from mingling or interfering with one another.

In order to interlockthe telescoping upper section 12a of the cabinet to the lower section 12, there are provided a plurality of latching means or catch mechanisms which are spaced longitudinally along each of the cabinets side walls. Each such catch orlatching means is formed by providing, on the inner surface of the respecaverrec tiv'e' side walls of the lower cabinet section 12, a longitudinally extending semi-circularly shaped open recess or groove 41 which is adapted to receive a bead-like projection or ridge 42 which extends along the edge of an arm-like projection or flange 43 which, in turn, is integrally fashioned with the respective side wall of the cabinets upper section 12a. When the upper cabinet section 12a is telescoped in place over the lower cabinet section 12, the head 42 contacts the inner wall surface of said lower section; but because the thickness of the wall of said lower section is greater than the spacing between the bead and the proximate inner wall surface of said upper section, it is necessary for the arm 43 to yield or flex slightly to increase this spacing and thus permit the bead 42 to slide along the wall surface to the open recess or groove 41. Upon reaching the groove 41, the resiliency of the arm 43 causes the bead 42 to drop therein, thus fixedly positioning said upper and lower sections in an interlocked relationship. In order to separate the sections, when desired, it is only necessary to exert an upward pressure on the marginal edges of said upper section suflicient to cause the bead 42 to disengage and ride out of the recess 41 against the restraining influence of the arm 43 and dong the inner surface of the respective side wall. It will be appreciated that the proposed latching means need not be formed of a plurality of spaced similar means, but may consist of continuous longitudinally extending members on the upper and lower sections which operate in the same manner as those described in detail herein.

The fan motor 17 is supported by a pedestal-like support or mount 44 which, preferably, is fashioned integral with the base or bottom wall of said lower cabinet section 12 and any suitable conventional means may be employed for fastening the motor to said mount or pedestal. A platform-like support member 45, which, likewise, may be fashioned integral with the base or bottom wall of said lower cabinet section 12, is provided for carrying the motor-compressor unit 13 which may be secured thereto by conventional mounting means. A condensate drain tube 46, which serves to conduct condensate from a sump area beneath the evaporator to a sump are'a adjoining the condenser 14 and the lower portion of the fan shroud 34 may also be fashioned as an integral part of the base or bottom wall of said lower cabinet section 12, and thereby further simplify the construction of the air-conditioning unit.

Both upper and lower sections of said cabinet are fashioned, preferably, by a conventional moulding process wherein the usual moulds or dies are formed-up with various inserts and the like therein, corresponding to the hereinbefore-desctibed integrally formed ribs or ridges and wall members, for producing finished moulded container-like housing structures which, when positioned in assembled relationship, will provide the cabinet envisaged by the present invention. Although many different materials may be used for the fabrication of the proposed cabinet, it is preferred that it be moulded either from a suitable plastic, such as a Fiberglas-reinforced polyester material, or from one of the light-weight metals,

such as aluminum or magnesium.

Although only a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated, and that form described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An air conditioning unit adapted for mounting in the window structure of an enclosed space to be cooled, comprising: a cabinet structure fashioned with an upper and a lower section; said upper section having a greater vertical length than the lower section and being dimensioned for telescopic positioning over said lower section;

'means fashioned integral with said sections for inter- 3 locking one of said sections with the other; means including a partition fashioned integral therewith for dividing said cabinet structure into a cooling compartment and a machinery compartment; refrigeration apparatus including a motor compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, a filter element, a fan motor, an evaporator fan and a condenser fan mounted in said cabinet structure and disposed partly in each of said compartments; means fashioned integral with said cabinet structure providing a fan shroud in each of said compartments for enclosing the said fans; and a plurality of individual members fashioned integral with said cabinet structure for fixedly positioning the condenser, evaporator, and filter element components of said refrigeration apparatus within said cabinet structure.

2. in an air conditioning unit adapted for mounting in a window structure of an enclosure to be cooled, the combination, comprising: a two-piece cabinet structure fashioned as an upper section and a lower section, with the upper section having a greater vertical length than the lower section; said upper section being dimensioned for telescopically positioning a portion thereof over said' lower section; means fashioned integral with said upper and lower sections for interlocking one of said sections with the other; means including a partition fashioned integral therewith for dividing said cabinet structure into a cooled compartment and a machinery compartment; refrigeration apparatus including a motor-compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, a filter element, a fan motor, an evaporator fan and a condenser fan mounted in said cabinet structure and disposed partly in each of said compartments; means fashioned integral with said cabinet structure providing a fan shroud in each of said compartments for enclosing a fan disposed therein; and a plurality of spaced means fashioned integral with said cabinet structure for fixedly positioning the condenser, evaporator, and filter element components of said refrigeration apparatus within said cabinet structure.

3. In an air conditioning unit adapted for mounting in a window structure of an enclosure to be cooled, the combination, comprising: a cabinet structure fashioned with an upper section and a lower section, and having the upper section of greater vertical length than the lower section; said upper section being dimensioned for telescopic positioning over said lower section; said lower section having a longitudinally extending recess on an inner wall surface and proximate the marginal edge thereof; means including a resilient member fashioned integral with and extending from an inner wall surface of said upper section for engaging said recess in an interlocking relation when said upper section is positioned over said lower section; means forming a partition for dividing said cabinet structure into a cooling compartment portion and a machinery compartment portion; said partition including a lower portion fashioned integral with said lower cabinet section, and an upper portion fashioned integral with said upper cabinet section; said upper partition portion having a bifurcated marginal edge portion formed integral therewith that overlies in an air sealing relationship a marginal edge of said lower partition portion when said upper cabinet section is positioned over said lower cabinet section; refrigeration apparatus mounted in said cabinet structure and disposed in part in each of the said compartments therein; a fan shroud in each of said compartments enclosing a fan therein, and having said shrouds fashioned integral with said cabinet structure; a plurality of spaced means fashioned integral with said cabinet structure for fixedly positioning individual components of said refrigeration apparatus.

4. In an air conditioning unit adapted for mounting in a window structure of an enclosure to be cooled, the combination, comprising: a two-section cabinet structure with a first section having a greater vertical length,

than the second section, and having said first section dimensioned for telescopically positioning a portion there- I of over said second section; an angle member fashioned integral with said first section and extending inwardly and downwardly from the inner wall surface thereof, and having a reversely directed rib adjoining the marginal edge of said member; said second section having a longitudinally extending groove on the inner wall surface thereof proximate the marginal edge of said section adapted to receive the rib of said angle member in an interlocking relationship when the said first section is positioned over the said second section; partition means fashioned integral therewith for dividing said cabinet structure into a cooling compartment and a machinery compartment; refrigeration apparatus mounted in said cabinet structure and disposed partly in each of the two compartments therein; means fashioned integral with said cabinet structure providing a fan shroud enclosing a fan 'in each of said compartments; a plurality of spaced means fashioned integral with said cabinet structure for fixedly positioning individual components of said refrigeration apparatus.

5. In an air conditioning unit adapted for mounting in a window structure of an enclosure to be cooled,'the combination, comprising: a cabinet structure fashioned with an upper section and a lower section, and having the upper section of greater vertical length and larger horizontal dimensions than the lower section and being said section into a cooling compartment portion and a machinery compartment portion; said partition members being complementally disposed and cooperative with one another when said upper section is telescoped over said lower section for dividing said cabinet structure into a cooling compartment and a machinery compartment; bifurcated means on one of said partition members that is engageable with the other of said partition members for providing an air seal therebetween; refrigeration apparatus mounted in said cabinet structure and disposed in part in said cooling compartment and in part in said machinery compartment; a plurality of'spaced members formed integral with said upper cabinet section, and a plurality of spaced members formed integral with said lower cabinet section; said spaced members being complementally arranged so that when the upper section is telescoped over the lower section said complemental members cooperate to provide means for fixedly positioning individual components of said refrigeration apparatus within said cabinet structure. V

6. In an air conditioning unit adapted formounting in a window structure of an enclosure to be cooled, the combination, comprising: a two-piece cabinet structure with one of said pieces molded from a plastic material to provide an open-ended lower cabinet section, and the other of said pieces molded from a plastic material to provide partition members being molded integral, one with each of said sections, and complementally disposed with'a bifu'rcated member along the edge of one of said partition members which engages a marginal edge of the other of said partition members to provide an air seal between said'compartments; refrigeration apparatus including a motor-compressor, condenser, evaporator, condenser fan,

evaporator fan, fan motor, and air filter elements mounted in said cabinet structure with the evaporator disposed in said cooling compartment adjacent an end wall opening and the condenser disposed in said machinery compartment adjoining another end wall opening; spaced members complementally disposed and molded integral with said cabinet sections to provide means for fixedly positioning the said condenser, evaporator and filter element components'within said cabinet structure; and means molded integral with said cabinet structure providing a fan shroud in each of said compartments.

7. In an air conditioning unit having refrigeration apparatus including a motor-compressor, condenser, evaporator, condenser fan, evaporator fan, fan motor and fil ter element disposed therein and the unit'being adapted for mounting in a window structure of an enclosure to be cooled, the combination, comprising: a molded cabinet structure fashioned with an upper section and a separable lower section, and having the upper section of greater ertical length and larger horizontal dimensions than the lower section for telescopic positioning thereover; means disposed in part on the inner Wall surfaces of each of the cabinet sections and operable for interlocking said sections in a telescoped position; partition members, one with each of said sections, dividing said sections into cooling and machinery compartments; said partition members being molded integral with said respective sections and complementally disposed and having a bifurcated member formed along the edge of one of said partition members which engages a marginal edge of the other of said partition members to provide air flow restricting means between said compartments; a plurality of horizontally spaced and vertically extending banks of supports fixedly positioning the condenser, evaporator and air filter components in position within the cabinet structure; each such bank of supports including a pair of members integrally formed one in each of the opposite sidewalls of said lower cabinet section, and a pair of similarly and complementally formed members in the opposite side Walls of said upper cabinet section; and wall means molded integral with said cabinet structure which are cooperative with the walls of said cabinet sections to provide a fan shroud in each of the compartments of said cabinet struo ture.

8. In an air conditioning unit having refrigeration apparatus including a motor-compressor, condenser, evaporator, condenser fan, evaporator fan, fan motor and filter element disposed therein and the unit being adapted for mounting in a window structure of an enclosure to be cooled, the combination, comprising:v a two-piece telescoping cabinet structure with one of said pieces molded from a plastic material to provide an open-ended lower cabinet section having a bottom wall therein, and the other of said pieces molded from a plastic material to provide an open-ended upper cabinet section having a top and side walls formed with louvered air-flow openings therein; means disposed in part on inner Wall surfaces of each of the cabinet sections for interlocking said sections in a telescoped position; partition members dividing said sections into cooling and machinery compartments; said partition members being molded integral, one with each of said sections, and complementally disposed with'a bifurcated member along the edge of one of said partition members which engages a marginal edge of the other of said partition members to provide an air-seal between said compartments; a plurality of horizontally spaced and vertically extending banks of supports fixedly positioning the condenser, evaporator and air filter: components of the refrigeration apparatus in position within the cabinet structure with the condenser and evaporator elements disposed respectively proximate the opposite open ends thereof; conduit means formed integral with the bottom wall of said lower section for conducting condensate collected from beneath the evaporator to an area beneath the condenser and condenser fan; and wall means molded integral with said cabinet structure which are cooperative with the walls of said respective cabinet sections to provide a fan shroud in each of the compartments adjoining respectively the evaporator and condenser components therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,386,883 Ames Oct. 16, 1945 10 Peltier Feb. 7, 1950 Bauman Sept. 5, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany June 27, 1940 

